*As S-East lawmakers protest non inclusion of zone on railway projects By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA— Some members of the House of Representatives have insisted that they will go through the budget estimate to ensure that there was fairness in the distribution of projects.

File: National Assembly Complex This is coming on the heels of protest by lawmakers from the South East, who alleged that the zone was not included among the states mentioned by President Muhammadu Buhari to benefit from railway projects. The South East lawmakers, who frowned at the alleged non inclusion of the zone in the rail project, said it was the continuation of marginalisation of the zone by the current administration. Speaking to Vanguard, the member representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo federal constituency of Imo State, Chike John Okafor, said the marginalisation of the South-East has been going on, but that there were some changes. He said: “I don’t disagree with the fact that we have not been accommodated in the scheme of things. So, I totally, politically and wholly agree with the fact that we in the South-East haven’t been fully carried along in terms of infrastructure, in terms of dividends of democracy and even in terms appointments.” Linda Ikpeazu, representing Onitsha federal constituency of Anambra State, while reacting to the alleged omission of the South-East in the rail projects, said what had been presented was budget estimate, as the lawmakers would look into it and ensure that there was fairness in the allocation of key projects. On whether the budget estimate would be passed as submitted by the President, Ikpeazu said: “I haven’t seen the budget, but I will tell you that the constitution made it very clear that it is the responsibility of the executive to lay the appropriation bill on the table before the National Assembly. It is what he has done, but it is our responsibility to look at the budget and determine how we want it to come out.” The budget estimate is far from reality— Edionwele Another lawmaker, Joseph Edionwele, from Edo State, said: “The budget projections and assumptions are far from reality. We over promise and under deliver. We ought to under promise and over deliver. The annual budget has become annual rituals. There is poor implementation as the citizens don’t feel the impact of the annual budget year in year out. Efforts should be put in place to at least make annual budget performance to be up to 80 percent or more.” Nigerians are suffering—Agbonayinma Also reacting to the budget presentation, Johnson Agbonayinma, PDP, Edo State said: “I am hoping for the best. I just want to say that those who want to hear, let them open their ears and listen attentively that Nigerians are suffering. We shouldn’t take it likely because this is a very serious issue that has to dealt with.